Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, and this amazing country has no rival when it comes to unique flora and fauna. Situated off the east coast of Africa, the national language Malagasy is spoken exclusively throughout the land, and Madagascar lives up to a billing as the place that time forgot. It's one thing to watch the famous animated movie and marvel over this wonderful place, but I'm delighted to fly in for a week long explore. As time is limited, I decided to base myself in Antananarivo, known as Tana to all, and so began one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life. There are some destinations that live on in the memory, and…

How can you visit the Mascarenes without stopping by to say hello to the inhabitants of Rodrigues. Although the island is technically part of Mauritius, it's a 600 kilometre flight east across the Indian Ocean before touching down at the airport. My host Jerry was there at 11:00pm to greet me, and drove me to the north of the island where his three bedroom house was on offer courtesy of AirBnb. Jerry showed me around the house, left the keys, and then headed home to his place around a kilometre away. This was the start of an unforgettable visit, as there are only a few neighbouring houses in this isolated area of the island. Jerry came to check on Tom…

Reunion is an intriguing travel destination. Situated less than an hour's flight from Mauritius, all of a sudden visitors are transplanted in to the EU. This is despite the fact the island is way out here in the Indian ocean, and close to the coast of Africa. It's almost surreal getting your head around seeing EU number plates on the cars as they zoom past, and becoming accustomed to the French language and culture that pervades this beautiful island. The French are fully committed to Reunion as an overseas department, so in many respects the locals are privileged to enjoy the world class infrastructure, roads, and bus service provided at a level comparable to Europe. The island is home to…

Mauritius is a destination I've wanted to visit for over a decade, but always seemed to be on the back burner for some reason. I have friends in Sydney who were born on this beautiful island, and it's a thrill to finally have the chance to visit. The Mascarene Islands are my home base for the next five weeks island hopping, and it all begins on the west coast resort town of Flic en Flac. With ten nights booked at the gorgeous Villa Osumare right by the beach, it's time to get the ball rolling on a new set of travel adventures. I jetted with Air Mauritius from Sydney to Perth, and it's a further nine hours flying time direct…

There's an expression that truth can be stranger than fiction, and you would hardly believe this story except for one thing, it happens to be true! My visit to Auckland was supposed to be an overnight stopover, before flying on to Tonga to enjoy the sites in my final South Pacific destination for this trip. I had flown from Apia in Samoa on Air New Zealand with a stopover in the largest city of NZ, and got up early for the ongoing flight next morning after spending an enjoyable night at a central Auckland hostel. Getting formalities done at check in and customs was a breeze, and before long we were up in the air watching the inflight instructions on…

The lure of a flight over to American Samoa cast a powerful spell on me, and it didn't take long for the friendly staff in the Apia office of Polynesian Airlines to get my itinerary sorted. I always find it thrilling when a new travel itinerary has been finalised, and the chance to visit another country in this wonderful world becomes a real prospect. The airpot to American Samoa is very close to Apia itself, only a ten minute drive in fact. The runway is only suitable for propellor planes, but the ride in the taxi entails just a few turns in an Apia neighbourhood, and suddenly the airstrip presents itself seemingly out of nowhere. I arrived at the airport…

To be honest I was feeling a little cross and out of sorts. There I was on New Years Eve back in the Fijian resort town of Nadi, swinging away in a hammock. The thing is though, I was meant to be in Samoa already, but Fijian Airways cancelled my flight without explanation and this had thrown my into a temporary funk. It was great to be back at Bamboo Backpackers, but it was not where I expected to be at that time. Then a beautiful blonde from Sweden approached and started a conversation. It came up within minutes of our chat we were both heading for Samoa, and after exchanging details she moved on for the evening. Part of…

I'm one of those people who finds the human condition endlessly fascinating. What is it exactly that controls our emotions, the mystical trigger to determine our likes and dislikes? And yet these very preferences are different from person to person, as by definition personal taste is a very individual thing. But there does seem to be a constancy in our genetic makeup, such that the things individuals like do not really change as the years go by. It has been twenty years since I last visited Vanuatu, where I stayed on Efate for a month chilling out by the beach, and discovering the rhythms of the local culture. It all seems so long ago, yet the positive memories of my…

When you consider New Caledonia is only two and a half hours flight from Sydney, visitors are really in for a pleasant surprise upon arrival in the country. The usual custom for Australians who want a taste of Europe is to get on a plane and travel half way around the world before we can enjoy the benefits of the fine cuisine, languages, and culture Europe is famed for. But right here in Noumea you will find cars driving on the right, people talking in French, patisseries and fine dining, first class roads and top rated hotels. It's all on offer when you visit this beautiful island in the South Pacific, just a hop and a skip out of Sydney.…

Fiji is a little patch of paradise only four hours flight from Sydney, and literally on our own doorstep. Aussies flock to this South Pacific paradise in extraordinary numbers, and it's amazing that I have not previously graced the shores of this beautiful island country. Now is the time to make amends, and I've booked a full week to get to know our near neighbour, the Rugby loving and Kava drinking friends of ours from the biggest island country in the South Pacific. Nadi is the international hub where most tourists fly into rather than the capital Suva, and the airport is less than ten kilometres from the centre of town. When I mentioned to the tourist information team where…